Bradford White Corporation

Wade W Bernreuter

Michael W Gordon

Ryan Ritsema

Bruce Hill

Matt Polhemus

Michael Gordon

Aspects of the invention relate to water heaters including a water storage tank having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall; a combustion chamber extending below the bottom wall of the water storage tank and a heat exchanger configured to receive combustion gases and to transfer heat to water in the water storage tank. The heat exchanger includes a first pass flue extending through the water storage tank and a plurality of second pass flues coupled to receive combustion gases from the first pass flue. The second pass flues extending through the water storage tank and having a straight top portion, a curved bottom portion, and a longitudinal axis residing in a plane. The curved bottom portion of the second pass flues exits the water storage tank through at least one aperture defined in the side wall of the water storage tank.

High-efficiency condensing water heater

A water heater inlet conduit having a top end portion configured to be coupled to an inlet port of a water heater is provided. The bottom end portion of the inlet conduit is configured to extend into an interior of the water heater. A passage within the inlet conduit is provided for water flow from the top end portion to the bottom end portion. The top end portion of the inlet conduit defines at least one outlet opening configured to divert a portion of the water flow outwardly from the passage in the top end portion of the inlet conduit. The top end portion of the inlet conduit further defines at least one inlet opening configured to draw water inwardly into the passage in the top end portion of the inlet conduit.

Apparatus and method for delivering water into a water heater

A water heater including a tank having a wall defining an interior for holding water is provided. A heat exchange assembly is positioned at least partially within the interior of the tank. The heat exchange assembly includes a metallic outer tube positioned within the interior of the tank. The outer tube has a wall with an inner surface and end portions positioned within the interior of the tank. The heat exchange assembly further includes a metallic inner tube extending within the outer tube and having end portions extending through the wall of the tank. A portion of the outer surface of the inner tube contacts a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube. An elongated passageway is defined between a portion of the outer surface of the inner tube and a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube to facilitate a flow of fluid.

Multi-wall heat exchanger for a water heater

A water heater including a tank having a wall defining an interior for holding water is provided. A heat exchange assembly is positioned at least partially within the interior of the tank. The heat exchange assembly has an outer tube extending within the interior of the tank. The outer tube has a wall with an inner surface. An inner tube extends within the outer tube. The inner tube has a wall with an outer surface. A gap is defined between the outer surface of the inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube. Heat conducting fluid is contained within the gap. The fluid facilitates the transfer of heat between the inner tube and the outer tube.

A heat exchange assembly adapted for use in a water tank is provided. The heat exchange assembly includes a tube having end portions and a coiled portion between the end portions. A fitting is connected to at least one of the end portions of the tube. The fitting has an end configured to extend through an opening in the water tank, and a surface positioned to limit the extension of the end through the opening in the water tank. The fitting also has an opposite end defining a bore configured to receive one of the end portions of the tube and to limit the extension of the end portion of the tube into the opposite end of the fitting. The bore extends axially beyond the surface of the fitting.

Growing community of inventors

Wyoming, MI, United States of America

Wade W Bernreuter